Thieveley Pike | Macclesfield Half

Holme Chapel in Cliviger was the venue on Saturday, as the latest round of Todmorden Harriers’ Fell Championship took in the Thieveley Pike Fell Race. The 4.25 mile route features several sharp climbs, totalling over 1300 feet, and is run in part over private land with the kind permission of landowners.

A brief dash across the start field was followed by a short section along the Pennine Bridleway, leading to the first, and steepest, of the day’s climbs, with the runners scrambling up the rough bank to Stone House Edge. After a short grassy downhill section and a stream crossing, the next moorland climb led to a traverse along the ridge to the Pike. A steep descent to Dean Scout punctuated by a small climb preceded the final rise of the day, which crossed the earlier route and then dropped the runners back down to the Bridleway for the fast run in to the finish.

Calder Valley’s Ben Mounsey was victorious for the 2nd successive year, in a time of 32:26, ahead of Horwich’s James Logue. Andrew Wrench was the first of the 26 Harriers to finish in 3rd place, followed by Sean Carey in 12th. Paul Brannigan narrowly edged out Nick Barber for 18th place.

Todmorden Ladies dominated the female finishers, holding five out of the top nine places, lead by an excellent victory for Lauren Jeska. Claire Duffield was 2nd lady and Kath Brierley 4th to easily take the team prize. Lucy Hobbs and Louise Abdy finished 6th and 9th ladies respectively.

Todmorden Results: 3 Andrew Wrench 33:46; 12 Sean Carey 35:57; 18 Paul Brannigan 37:20; 19 Nick Barber 37:23; 21 Dave Collins 37:49; 27 Paul Burnett 40:51; 28 Lauren Jeska 40:58; 34 James Riley 42:07; 38 Andrew Bibby 42:35; 40 Claire Duffield 43:08; 47 Kath Brierley 44:47; 54 Richard Butterwick 45:57; 64 Lucy Hobbs 47:08; 71 Peter Marshall 48:40; 73 Louise Abdy 48:56; 78 Peter Ehrhardt 50:06; 79 Elise Milnes 50:17; 82 Kevin Coughlan 50:33; 83 Mel Siddall 51:23; 87 Fiona Armer 51:38; 89 Helen Hodgkinson 52:03; 90 Sue Roberts 52:07; 96 Graham Milnes 53:27; 98 Barry Chapman 55:43; 99 Dave O'Neill 55:53; 112 Ian Stansfield 1:14:20.


With so many racing on Saturday, Sarah Glyde was the sole representative of the club at Sunday’s Macclesfield Half Marathon, despite the race featuring in the club’s Road Championship. Sarah took full advantage, finishing in a time of 1:44:22 to close the gap on ladies championship leader Mel Blackhurst to less than a point.